Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Director - Council
- Summary
This position will remain open until filled but the screening process will move quickly. In order to be considered for the first round of interviews please submit your application materials no later than April 19, 2019 before 11:59 p.m.
The King County Council is looking for a skilled and motivated individual, with a passion for community engagement to advance equity and social justice in King County. The Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Director works with communities across the county to ensure the Council understands the broad spectrum of issues facing the County, as well as the people we serve. The ESJ Director also shares the Council's positions and policies with communities across King County.
The successful candidate is a leader with a proven track record of carrying out equity and social justice efforts. This is an exciting opportunity to join the King County Council staff and play a role in ensuring residents receive quality regional services and foster effective partnerships with communities within King County.
This position requires a self-starter with a keen political acumen, cultural competence and experience working and building trusted relationships with underserved communities. The Equity and Social Justice Director is a salaried, at-will, overtime exempt classification. This position reports directly to the Chief of Staff, but is responsive to all members of the council.
King County Council is committed to upholding and promoting equal opportunity in employment. The Council encourages people of all backgrounds, cultures and religions to apply, including veterans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the County we serve. We believe a diverse workforce is a strong workforce.
MEET THE METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL:
Named after one of our nation's greatest civil rights leader, King County remains one of the best places in the United States to live, work, and play. Take a look at the King County Council's message to county residents and outline for the legislative branch:
King County Council- Job Duties
JOB DUTIES:
In order to be considered for this opportunity, an applicant must be able to do the following:- Serve as a primary point of contact, communication and facilitation between the Council and communities, with particular focus on residents who have historically lacked a strong voice and influence in local government, including communities of color, limited-English speaking populations and low-income residents.
- Lead the development of inclusive government practices, programs and policies to address inequities and solicits community input throughout the policy development process.
- Advocate for the Council's ESJ goals; improves inter-branch coordination on ESJ issues.
- Provide leadership and support for internal legislative branch ESJ efforts.
- Prepare correspondence, reports, legislation or other analytical work as directed; works closely with the Council's central staff on legislation as necessary.
- Attend relevant local community meetings on behalf of the Council.
- Lead outreach and networking for the Council to ensure a wide array of diverse community partners and organizations.
- Acts as a resource for all Council members and legislative branch staff on ESJ and community engagement practices.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL:
Our ideal candidate will understand and have a passion to serve communities who have historically lacked a strong voice and influence in local government. The preferred candidate will also demonstrate skill developing policy, programs and inclusion engagement practices, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills, initiative, and judgment.
Competitive candidates will possess a Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience working directly with elected officials in local or regional government; or any combination of education and/or experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the scope of the job duties as described in the job description may also be considered. We know that historically marginalized people often do not have the opportunity for advanced education so we value "lived experience" when the candidate can demonstrate the following abilities:
- Advanced expertise in negotiation and mediation and knowledge of conflict resolution techniques.
- Prepare and present professional and influential written materials on a variety of complex and sensitive public policy matters.
- Conduct research and analysis.
- Develop and maintain positive and influential relationships with community partners and organizations, policy staff, County executive and departments, and all relevant external customers and stakeholders within King County.
- Prepare and represent the Council and County at hearing, meetings, and other events.
- Flexible and agile thinker in sometimes chaotic political situations. Have a strong grounding with local and state elected officials, divisions of government, and community groups.
- Understand the County's Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) goals in order to advise on policies to advance them as well as describe County ESJ goals to diverse audiences.
- Supplemental Information
COMPENSATION & HOW TO APPLY:
This position is open to all qualified candidates. The annual salary range for this position is $117,539 - $158,078, dental and vision insurance as well as a generous vacation and leave program. To see all of King County's benefits, please visit our website at: King County Benefits
Application Materials Required:
The following items are required to be considered for this position:- Cover letter
- Resume
- Application
If you have any questions regarding this opportunity to join County government, please contact Tracy Calderon at 206-477-0979 or tracy.calderon@kingcounty.gov.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Briefly describe your understanding of race in the United States. (no more than 200 words)02List two attributes that you feel you possess that make an effective leader. Provide examples about how you incorporate these attributes into your leadership style. (no more than 200 words)03Describe your work experience with equity and social justice principles in marginalized communities and populations. (no more than 200 words)04Describe your experience building relationships with diverse stakeholders and/or within a diverse multidisciplinary team to accomplish desired outcomes. (no more than 200 words)05Describe your experience working with elected officials. (no more than 200 words)
Required Question